Chelsea failed to win its group in the Champions League after drawing 1-1 with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. Tiemoue Bakayoko has become the scapegoat for many Chelsea fans. His lapse of concentration allowed Saul Niguez to head home unmarked for Atletico’s goal. Some have gone as far as calling him the worst signing of the Abramovich era.
The worst signing of the Abramovich era? Bakayoko? The fact that Fernando Torres was playing in the same match takes that statement to astounding levels of foolishness. It took Torres 14 matches score his first goal for Chelsea after his £50 million move. Bakayoko, a holding midfielder, scored after seven.
It is a truism of the game that the real advantage of man marking at corners is you know who to blame when the opposition scores. Fans of the Blues are understandably disappointed to finish second in the group, but many appear relieved to have a single figure to shoulder the blame.
There is plenty of blame to go around, however. Chelsea’s shambolic performance in Rome is proof of that. It is unfair to single the young Frenchman out.
Bakayoko, however, has not had a great season and has struggled to adapt to the Premier League. His potential is there for all to see, but it will take time to draw it out. At 23, he is still young enough to fulfill it. Didier Drogba was making his first top flight appearances for Guingamp at the same age.
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Antonio Conte planned to slowly integrate him into the first team as an eventual replacement for Nemanja Matic, especially as he spent the summer recuperating after knee surgery. The Serbian’s sudden departure forced Conte to throw Bakayoko into the fray much sooner than he would have liked.
Bakayoko is also adapting to a new league and way of life. This is a player that wears the number 14 because of his affinity for Paris’ 14th arrondissement where he was born and raised. Is it any wonder that it may take him some time to adapt?
Danny Drinkwater, on the other hand, has impressed when given the opportunity. He has earned a place in Conte’s plans. Bakayoko losing his place in the starting lineup to Drinkwater could be the best thing to happen to him. It would give him time to adapt and devote himself wholeheartedly to Conte’s tutelage.
Next: Chelsea board willing to lose star for nothing
It is extremely harsh to judge Bakayoko a failure after only six months at the club. There is still plenty more to come from this young man.